Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-04
A REPLY BY THE COMMISSIONERS.
They Maintain that the Northwest Has
Not Been Specially Favored.

Yesterday afternoon District Commissioners
Weoo and Wheatley sent the following letter to
senator Plumb with reference to the debate in the
house wednesday regarding the District appro-
priation bill
SIR: 1t appears, from the speech Of Mr.. Hender-
son In the House yesterday that his attention has
not Deen called to the fact that the Commissioners
are required, In order to get before the committee
on appropriations OF the House their detailed esti
schedule OF such improvements to the Secretary of
Ine treasury to be by that officer considered, APP
tNra or aisapproved as he may think the public
lnIeresG demands, and then transmitted to Con-
has been this year.
lore IL during all OF its deliberations detailed
schedule OF streets to be improved which could
ony oe changed by its action, and which was en-
tlrely out OF the control OF the Commissioners In
Iact, the committee of the House did change the
Scnedqle, substituting New jersey avenue for
NeW hampshire avenue, which latter avenue was
aPpeaiS tnat the Senate committee do not agree
WIN tne House committee in this change How
fende G ts may 0e, 6osn OF these avenues as In
as Ine northwestern section OF the city, and in
WI way they may be treated by Congress
the entire amount expended upon them will come
out OF the amount the appropriation for streets
apportioned to this northwest section.
II VIII also oe borne in mind that In this matter
VI appropriation for streets the Commissioners
nave no discretion; the money must he expended
upon the streets specified by Congress, and this
hao CIV Uccu Tile case. In every year since the
present. government came into existence apprOpri-
ATOMS nave been made for streets according to this
schedule furnished by the Commissioners as it
comes finally from the hands of the committee,
the committee having power to make such changes
as IL may think best. 1t is mistake TO say that
IN the appOrt1Onment OF the appropriations asked
Tor streets discrimination has been made In favor
OF one section and against the others. The north
west section, which is designated as that in favor
OF Wnlcn discrimination is made embraces all that
part OF the city lying between North Capitol street
ana R0ck creek and Boundary and Streets and
Ine taDieS furnished In the annual report or the
commissioners show the proportion OF population,
area anu taxable value OF the different
appropriation devoted to the northwest
ern section, judging from this data, is
much less than 1t Is entitled TO. What is
remarkable about this matter is that It Is pro-
posed, by those who make the charges that the
northwest section has made more than its proper
ZION, 10 equai1Ze matters by reducing the amounts
appropriated for the sections Disseminated
against. The Commissioners in the schedule re-
commended an appropriation for the northeast
the House committee. by their proposed reduction,
practically make the amounts for these sections
$4,000 less, claiming unjust discrimination in
favor OF the northwest
The commissioners would further state that the
the total amount asked for $4OO COO is not twenty
per cent OF the total amount needed and
fOr, FOR street improvements in the city.
WIN reference 10 the item for the support of the
public schools, the Commissioners would say that
they favor the amendment OF the Senate, Geeming
that the increased amounts are needful for the
school interests OF the District Very respectfully
etc"